6 Foods to Avoid if You are a Mom-to-be

Nothing can be more important for our health than eating a nutritious meal. And if you are pregnant, it becomes even more essential as you are carrying another life. Your developing baby needs all the essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. However, it’s also important to avoid certain foods when you are pregnant. Here they are.

1. Raw Meat

You should avoid eating raw seafood and raw or undercooked poultry or beef as it may be contaminated with coliform bacteria, salmonella and toxoplasmosis. Thus, it’s equally important to think on this as you think over ‘is herbalife safe for pregnancy’.

2. Deli Meat

Deli meats are known to be infected with listeria, which can lead to miscarriage. Listeria has the capability of crossing the placenta and infecting the baby, which can cause blood poisoning or infection. This condition may be life-threatening. If in pregnancy you are planning to eat deli meats, make sure to heat the meat till it’s steaming hot.

3. Fish Containing Mercury

Fish containing high amounts of mercury should not be eaten during pregnancy. Mercury consumed in pregnancy has been associated to brain damage and developmental delays of the foetus. Examples of these kinds of fish are tilefish, swordfish, shark and king mackerel. Canned, chunk light tuna usually has a lower quantity of mercury than other types, but still should be consumed in moderation.

Particular types of fish used to make sushi should be avoided too because of high mercury levels.

4. Smoked Seafood

Smoked and refrigerated seafood, usually labeled as kippered, nova style, lox or jerky must be avoided since it could be infected with listeria. These can be eaten if they are parts of a meal that has been well cooked. This kind of seafood is normally found in the deli section of grocery stores. Shelf-safe or canned smoked seafood is often fine to eat.

5. Fish Contaminated with Industrial Pollutants

Never eat fish from rivers and lakes that may be contaminated with high amounts of polychlorinated biphenyls. This is a caution for those who fish in local water bodies. The fish include striped bass, bluefish, trout, walleye, pike and salmon. Get in touch with the local Environment Protection Agency or health department to know which fish is safe for consumption. Keep in mind that this is about fish caught in your local water bodies and not fish available in your local grocery shop.

6. Raw Shellfish

Most of the seafood-borne diseases are caused by undercooked shellfish, which include clams, mussels and oysters. Cooking prevents a few types of infections; still, it cannot prevent the algae-induced infections that are associated to red tides. While raw shellfish pose a concern for everyone, they must be altogether avoided during pregnancy.

So, while eating a well-balanced nutritious meal, keep in mind to avoid the above-mentioned foods for the healthy growth and birth of your baby.